Sarma: A Bountiful Armenian Dinner

Julien Godman of TONIC & JUICE (Detroit) and Crystal Starr, Manager of AlleyCat Cafe (Pontiac), have teamed up to produce a unique and invigorating 5-course culinary evening in the heart of Pontiac– in a romantic underground wine cellar! One-night-only.

Pop-up chef Julién Godman, of Detroit, has been cooking-up and producing brunches and dinners for nearly three years in Detroit. His two most recent Armenian offerings were at the Detroit Kite Festival as a vegetarian food vendor and Coffee And Blank for his monthly brunch. His focus is on vegetarian New-Armenian. Many of his recipes fall somewhere in-between ancient Armenian recipes of the home and food found on the streets of modern-day Los Angeles.

To Julien, as a third-gen Armenian-American, he sees his culinary expression as a fair and contemporary exploration of what it means to be Armenian today, within a distinct and expansive diaspora.

The dinner concept is representative of its name, sarma sometimes known as dolma, of which in its best translation basically means food rolled or stuffed into other food. The full menu will be released two weeks before the event. All courses are vegetarian, except for one course of baked lamb with a vegetarian substitute. In addition, a trio of grapeleaves (sarma) will be provided as a pre-dinner taster. There will be a ten-minute mid-meal break for guests.

Plus, full cash virgin bar, fully equipped with delicious and original alcohol free drinks. The evening is also BYO wine or brandy friendly. Brownie points to any who bring an authentic Armenian brandy. Please, 21+ only.

And what 3-hour culinary affair is complete without music!? To that end, there will be a special local musical performance by “The Human State“.

So dress comfortably, mark your calendars, invite your best friend, date or family, and prepare yourself for a wonderful and bountiful evening affair.